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This year why not take a break from gifting traditional department store sweaters and ties? A refreshing alternative is available in the form of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society Holiday Pop Up Store. PHS has taken over a storefront in a prime retail location in Chesnut Hill. The 400 square-foot space will be transformed into a holiday shopping haven, adorned with birch wood and green garland, accented with touches of glitter and mercury glass, and offering exceptional gifts for the garden, design, culinary, and Flower Show enthusiasts on your holiday list.

Want a soft serve-inspired dessert that's totally guilt free? Helllooooo, Banana Whip. This past summer, my sister-in-law raved about the Bashful Banana in Ocean City, NJ. I enjoyed their banana whip at least twice during the week (on top of soft serve a few times...) This frozen dessert not only satisfied my sweet tooth but I learned it was ONLY made of bananas. I had no clue how this was possible since I had previously put bananas in the blender for smoothies, and it's nothing like frozen yogurt. Don't worry friends, I've discovered the secret. And it's good. AND, this recipe is easy enough to be called a.... Half-assed recipe!

Let's not let Black Friday get all the glory this year. Saturday, November 24th is Small Business Saturday 2012. Celebrate by hitting up local boutiques, vintage shops, independent coffee shops, farmers markets and the like! According to the National Federation of Independent Businesses Small Business Saturday is the most important shopping day for 36% of independent retailers. Using our wallets to show support for local companies will help these businesses grow - in turn fostering the economy. So skip out on Starbucks and Target for a day or two and throw your dollars to the little guys. Philadelphia offers an abundance of options - like Arcadia boutique and One Shot Coffee in Northern Liberties, for example. Readers, any Small Business Saturday 2012 spots you plan on hitting up?

Black Friday is here! Don't feel like dealing with those lines and craziness? Stay cozy on your couch & shop for everyone on your list! Here's 10 of my recommendations that you can purchase online for Black Friday:

I come from a big family - my parents are both one of eight and I have a zillion cousins (60+) Picture the Irish Catholic/Italian version of the my big fat greek wedding family and you're close to an image of our typical holiday. But, this Thanksgiving marks a first. As we recently moved and aren't a bus trip away from my family anymore my husband and I decided to tackle Thanksgiving on our own. Essentially this means me. He has a lot of good qualities and talents but cooking isn't among them ;) I'm feeling totally liberated and excited at the prospect of being 100% in control of my Thanksgiving feast for the first time in my life. My husband isn't a vegetarian by any means but he'll literally eat anything I put in front of him (alas one of those good qualities I referred to above.) Essentially I have full reign to go crazy with the vegetarian and meatless sides that I consider the best part of the holiday. As a non meat-eater I like the idea of a centerpiece dish - like a tofurky for example - but to be honest I don't go ga ga over faux meats. I find them very hit or miss. And, why does the bird or "bird" get all the attention. anyway? Load me up with side dishes and I'm a happy girl! That said click through for a run down of some of the vegetarian Thanksgiving side recipes that will be making an appearance at our Thanksgiving this year.

Why not balance out a local beer extravaganza with a talk about the state of our Carbon Dioxide emissions? I did just that by attending back-to-back Philly Beer Week-sponsored Bathtub Beer Fest and Bill McKibben's 350 Do the Math tour! (Find out about both events, after the jump).

Love it or hate it: We're about to be in the chaotic holiday season. The 4th 'R' of achieving green-ness is the one not often discussed: Refuse it. (Find out more, after the jump!)

Today is national America Recycles Day. Of course at GPB we pretty much think everyday should be recycle day. Nonetheless, I'm grateful for a holiday that commemorates the cause. America Recycles Day has been celebrated since 1997. AmericaRecycles.org encourages people and organizations to host events and activities that foster recycling education among colleagues, friends, neighbors and kids on or around this day. Yesterday Mayor Nutter announced that Philadelphia will celebrate America Recycles Day at several locations throughout the city. Here's a rundown on some of the events: (Find out how YOU can celebrate and more about this great day, after the jump):

Attention all those who bike Philly streets: The Complete Streets Bill is up for discussion in City Council TOMORROW, Thursday 15th. Councilman Mark Squilla, the  Mayor's Office of Transportation and Utilities, the Streets and Law Departments, and the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia all worked together to improve those often rowdy biker-car-pedestrian relations. Heck, maybe they even were inspired after reading my rebuttal to Carrie Denny's infamous "Cyclists suck, my gas-guzzling SUV rules all Philly Streets" Philly Mag post. (Maybe Philly Mag even got the point since they mentioned this bill is even good for cars.) The bill has 2 main goals: